Johnny Depp's 'Secret World' TV Show Needs to Draw Inspiration from CW's 'Supernatural' and FX's 'Legion'

For quite sometime, dark, gritty, and supernatural shows have been something of interest. The popularity of the dark and gritty genre's have been quite alive thanks to shows such as Supernatural, Constantine, as well as Marvels smash-hit show Legion. Joining the ranks of shows with this approach comes Secret World based on the smash-hit free-to-play PC game.

The game tells the story of a player character who happens to fall into place as a piece of a long running battle between the realms of mystical creatures, three warring groups, and the human realm. Among the chaos, the three warring groups just happens to be where the player of the game finds themselves in place.

Players select an allegiance to one of the three groups: Illuminati, Dragon's, and Templar's. Each of the groups are fighting for control of the human world, but also the worlds that humans can't see. While little do these factions know that something much bigger is at works, and the fate of humanity lies in the cusp of a cataclysmic event

'Secret World' will need to draw on elements from Supernatural's successful run.

With Supernatural approaching to its 13th season, fans have had a lot to look forward to. They've seen the Winchester Brothers, Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) fight every odd possible, including the inevitable end of the world as angels and demons battle it out on Earth. The show has built itself upon a deep mythos that includes a unique set of allies, villains, and mythological creatures. Each of them approaching the world for some of control until the hunter brothers come along.

For 12 seasons, the show has managed to continue on and even entertain friends with its quirk and amusing approach to combining multiple genres together. Known for its unique approach to horror, drama, and a complete bonafide bro-trip, fans had had a lot to look forward to with the show approaching its 13th season. To be quite sincere, Supernatural isn't afraid to show its slow-burning horror-filled family drama side. It's a show that feeds upon that very element as each weekly episode acts like a mini episodic format while seasonal stories begin to play out towards the end of each season.

These are the very elements a show such as Secret World will have to adapt to in order to succeed. While the show will be quite different from Supernatural there are a lot of elements the two will have quite in common. To draw inspiration from other shows also leaves room for a few others to give a look at.

DC's 'Constantine' and Marvel's 'Legion' are great places for inspiration.

While Constantine was cancelled rather quickly after its first season ended, the show itself garnished a rather loyal fanbase. Unlike it's previous attempt at becoming a live-action show, Constantine had a chance to come to life in every way possible. With Matt Ryan portraying the character himself, fans garnered a rather large amount of attention from the fans.

The show took a daring attempt at bringing Constantine's struggles to life as he battled mystical creatures ranging from demons as old as time and fighting to tilt the scales in favor to the angels that have come to Earth. While Matt Ryan's portrayal was spot-on the show didn't garnish the attention it needed on NBC to stay alive, but most importantly, it's success isn't because the fact it tapped a DC comics character.

Unlike Legion, which has been renewed for a second season, Constantine failed to grasp the audience needed to stay alive even though it managed to pull a large cult following in even past the very end, Legion serves up a delicious dish as a psychological thriller filled with extraordinary mutant powers. Because of this, fans have been captivated by the show that tells the story of Professor Charles Xavier's son who has extraordinary psychic capabilities. Since the story elements are told through David's (Legion) fractured mine, the story hops, skips, and jumps around. This works out quite well, because it offers something for Johnny Depp and his team to inspire from.

It offers twists, turns, and unexpected experiences that fans may or may not be ready for. Since Secret World could very well follow suit, it seems that both Constantine and Legion are great places to start, especially when your game feels like, it itself, is inspired directly by a comic book. Since it will be telling the tale of the three factions, the war between the realms, and an unassuming hero or heroine, lets just hope that the show offers depth that fans of the game and non-fans alike will find themselves enjoying.

And here comes 'Secret World'.

To bring the show to life, Johnny Depp's (Black Mass, What's Eating Gilbert Grape) production company Infinitum Nihil with partnered company G4C innovation's production company Gudrun Giddings in order to produce the Secret World television show, which will be based upon the globally successful Secret World Legends MMO.

The TV show adaption is set to be written by James V. Hart (Hook with Robin Williams) and Jake Hart (The Desk). To help bring it to life, former CSI: New York showrunner Pam Veasey has signed up as the showrunner for the Secret World live-action adaption. While Johnny Depp, Christi Dembrowski, Sam Sarkar, and Gudrun Giddings will produce the show with Veasey, there's still a lot to look at, and even find inspiration from.

Since the show is only announced to be in the works and no home for it has been announced to broadcast, it's safe to assume a lot is in the works, and Funcom, the creators of Secret WorldLegends may be playing a rather large part in the upcoming show.

(Source: Deadline)